Distorted beauty - The growing issue of eating disorders

Thank you so much for taking an interest in my blog! The topic surrounding eating disorders is one very important to me and I hope after reading this blog it will be to you as well! Approximately 1.6 million people in the UK alone suffer from an eating disorder and this number is only going to grow unless we all do something about it. Through this blog I’m aiming to raise awareness of the cause and improve your general understanding and attitude towards all forms of eating disorders – so it would mean a lot if you took a few minutes to read this. 

This is a brief insight into Sarah Quirke’s disorder and recovery.  Sarah’s story begins at the age of only 13, when she first developed anorexia. A school nurse told her she would ‘Keep an eye on her weight’ and since then, overcome by insecurities Sarah’s weight began to drop at an unhealthy rate.  She was tormented at school and frequently bullied, which only made matters worse. No one in her family or close friends realised anything was wrong. Out of control and too scared to ask for help, Sarah kept this to herself. A family friend pointed out her weight loss to her mother and it was only then that Sarah was taken to a doctor and put immediately in a temporary recovery ward in the Royal Free Hospital in Central London.

Sarah – happy and healthy after recovery

Within three weeks her condition got much worse and she was moved to a permanent ward where she refused to eat and over exercised in secret.  Sarah reached a critical stage in her illness and was so restricted that she was not allowed to stand up, her hair fell out, and she couldn’t even hold up her head. Her illness caused massive trauma not only for her but had huge impact her family and friends too.

After Sarah’s fourteenth birthday something happened which would turn everything around. A previous patient of the ward, Lara, approached her and Sarah was first introduced to B-eat. – an amazing charity devoted to helping people overcome their eating disorder despite all the odds. After contacting them, Sarah was provided with huge amounts of support, advice and care which gave her the determination that saved her life.  Now happy again, Sarah is determined to educate people about the severity of eating disorders and challenge modern stereotypes of eating disorders and those suffering them.
B-eat help enormous amounts of people and could one day help you, a member of your family or even a close friend on the path to recovery. However, due the rising number of those being diagnosed with an eating disorder, they need more funding and your help to save people like Sarah who desperately need support!

Thank you again for reading my blog, I hope you gained something from it and now feel more informed about this issue and are inspired to get involved. It would also help if you let me know your thoughts and answered some of the questions below.
If you want to know more please do visit B-eat’s website - http://www.b-eat.co.uk as it provides information, contact details, advice, recovery stories and much more! Any form of support, big or small can make a big difference! With your help we can change what it means to feel beautiful.

• Have you ever been affected in anyway by this issue? (even if its through family or friends)
• Do you know feel more informed about how B-eat can aid people with eating disorders?
• Would you be prepared to do any of the following to help B-eat in their mission to eventually overcome eating disorders…

1. Make a donation to B-eat?
2. Take part in a fundraising event or campaign?
3. Sign up to a regular email/letter explaining B-eat’s upcoming events and activities?
4. Tell your family and friends about ‘B-eat’ to either inform them or persuade them to take part in any of the above?

If you do kindly leave a response, please let me know where abouts you’re from (e.g home town & country – if not UK!) 

Thank you so much again for reading my blog!
Vicky